Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
Letter No. 17025/2013/CP, eDCR Drawings for Multi-storeyed Buildings
The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning, through the Town and Country Planning Department Letter Reference No. 17025/2013/CP dated 31 May 2013, directs all subordinate offices to send both soft and hard copies of every building drawing when forwarding multi-storeyed building proposals from 1 June 2013. The instruction supports implementation of the eDCR System (Auto DCR System) and repeats a requirement in Circular Letter Reference No. 17025/2012/CP dated 22 March 2013 that subordinate offices had not followed.
What the letter governs
The Town and Country Planning Department Letter Reference No. 17025/2013/CP dated 31 May 2013 deals with the documents that must accompany multi-storeyed building proposals when subordinate offices forward them for further consideration. It requires every building drawing connected with a proposal to be supplied in both electronic and physical form.
The requirement is part of the implementation of the eDCR System, also identified in the letter as the Auto DCR System.
Who must follow it
The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning directs all subordinate offices to follow the requirement without fail. The communication was also sent to all Assistant Directors, Planning Assistants and Supervisors at the head office.
The direction is primarily an internal submission procedure for Town and Country Planning Department offices. It does not separately impose a fee or describe a new approval standard for property owners or building applicants.
Key requirements
When a multi-storeyed building proposal is forwarded from 1 June 2013:
- All building drawings relating to the proposal must be included.
- Soft copies of all drawings must be sent.
- Hard copies of all drawings must also be sent.
- Subordinate officials must follow the requirement without omission.
The letter does not specify the electronic file format, number of physical copies or method of delivery.
Why the direction was issued
Circular Letter Reference No. 17025/2012/CP dated 22 March 2013 had already instructed offices to send soft and hard copies of building drawings to support implementation of the eDCR System. Letter Reference No. 17025/2013/CP records that subordinate offices had not followed that procedure up to that point.
The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning therefore made compliance mandatory for proposals forwarded from 1 June 2013.
Relevance to property matters
For a multi-storeyed building proposal handled through a subordinate Town and Country Planning Department office, the forwarding file must contain drawings in both soft-copy and hard-copy form. Buyers and owners reviewing such a proposal can use the letter to understand this document requirement, but the letter does not state whether any particular development qualifies for approval.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does a multi-storeyed building proposal need both electronic and paper drawings?
Yes. When subordinate offices forward the proposal, all building drawings must be provided as both soft copies and hard copies.
When did the requirement become mandatory?
The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning directed subordinate offices to follow it for multi-storeyed building proposals forwarded from 1 June 2013.
Why was the instruction repeated?
Circular Letter Reference No. 17025/2012/CP dated 22 March 2013 had already required soft and hard copies, but the subordinate offices had not followed the procedure.
Does the letter specify a file format or fee for eDCR drawings?
No. Letter Reference No. 17025/2013/CP requires soft and hard copies but does not specify an electronic file format or any fee.
